Asian Games: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar Expresses Mixed Feelings after Securing Gold and Bronze

Winning both a gold and a bronze medal in the men’s 10m Air Rifle competition at the Asian Games on Monday left Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar with mixed emotions.

Tomar, a 22-year-old hailing from Madhya Pradesh, played a crucial role in securing a gold medal for the Indian team, which also included Divyansh Panwar and Rudranksh Patil, in the 10m Air Rifle Team competition, setting a world record score in the process. However, in the Individual event, Tomar had to settle for the bronze medal after a shootout with his teammate Rudranksh Patil.

Expressing his feelings after the final, Tomar said, “I am a little disappointed that I didn’t win a gold medal (in the individual event), but I am really happy that I won a team gold medal with the world record.”

He acknowledged the exceptional performance of the Chinese shooter and recognized the tough competition he faced from the Korean shooter and his teammate Rudranksh Patil. Tomar maintained consistent scores throughout the competition, with only one exception when he scored 9.8 on the 22nd turn, allowing Korean Park Hajun to claim the silver medal.

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Despite the mixed emotions, Tomar considered his performance a good start, especially since this is his first Asian Games appearance. He remains optimistic about the upcoming men’s 50m Rifle 3-positions event, scheduled for a few days from now.

“Winning two medals on the opening day is always a morale booster. I will now go into the 50m Rifle 3-position event with a lot more confidence. I hope to do well in that event too,” said Tomar.

Regarding the shoot-off with teammate Rudranksh Patil, Tomar expressed that such situations are part and parcel of competitive sports. He stated, “Normally, I would like to avoid shoot-offs altogether, but having one with a teammate, even more so, is part and parcel of competitive sports.”

Tomar praised his teammates, Divyansh Panwar and Rudranksh Patil, in the 10m air rifle event, describing them as perfect athletes and valuable teammates.

With the men’s 10m Air Rifle event concluded, Tomar looks forward to a few days of rest before he participates in the 50m Rifle 3-position competitions, both team and individual. He shared that celebrations will have to wait until after the 50m event.

“I still have one more event, so the celebrations will have to wait. But I will have a big celebration with my family after going back home,” said Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, who was inspired to take up shooting at a young age by watching his father practice shooting targets in their fields in Khargon.

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He initially began with toy guns and gradually progressed to using real equipment. “We are Rajputs, so we keep weapons in our house. Moreover, my father is a farmer, so he used to keep guns. From a very young age, I used to go to the fields and try shooting targets,” Tomar once explained in an interview, shedding light on how he embraced shooting as a sport.

After the Asian Games, Tomar will redirect his focus towards qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games, with his teammate Rudranksh Patil already securing a quota place for the country. Tomar’s ultimate goal is not just to participate in the Olympics but to clinch a medal, a dream he has cherished from the beginning of his shooting journey.

-IANS